Objectives

The Chemistry, Physics and Life and Environmental Sciences Laboratory is a set of spaces dedicated to the development of practical work in the teaching of these areas. In this laboratory it is possible to use laboratory equipment to develop practical projects and explore relevant concepts in each of these scientific disciplines.

The main specific objectives are:

• To develop scientific skills: to support the acquisition of knowledge about essential laboratory techniques for teaching Chemistry, Physics and Life and Environmental Sciences.
• Promote theory-practice integration: complement theoretical teaching with laboratory activities that reinforce and illustrate the concepts discussed in the classroom;
• Supporting the development of practical and experimental work: facilitating learning through laboratory work that allows students to directly study and observe chemical, physical and natural (biological and geological) phenomena;
• Fostering environmental awareness and responsibility: supporting field activities and sustainability projects that allow students to investigate local ecosystems;
• Stimulating Critical Thinking: providing a laboratory space that promotes scientific curiosity and encourages simple research projects, encouraging students to formulate hypotheses, carry out experiments, collect and interpret data critically.

Description of spaces

The Chemistry Laboratory has an area of 50m2 and capacity for 30 students. The laboratory consists of fixed workbenches on the sides and 5 fixed islands with a sink in the centre. The central islands make it possible to work collaboratively in groups while maintaining the necessary safety when handling reagents.

The laboratory is equipped with various water points and electricity supplies, an emergency shower and an eye wash. It has a digital interactive whiteboard.

The laboratory is equipped with classic laboratory equipment to deal with curricular content related to fundamental interactions and the constitution of matter, mixtures and solutions, simple reactions (acid-base, precipitation, oxidation, reduction, etc.), molecular compounds and polymers.

The Physics Laboratory has an area of 50m2 and capacity for 30 students. The laboratory consists of fixed workbenches on the sides and removable furniture in the centre. In this way, the layout of the tables and material storage furniture is very flexible, allowing the room to be quickly reorganised to suit collaborative work in groups.

The laboratory is equipped with several water points and electricity supplies. It has a digital interactive whiteboard.

The laboratory is equipped with classic laboratory equipment to cover curricular content related to sound, light, thermodynamics, hydrostatics, properties of materials, electromagnetism and basic astronomy.

The Life and Environmental Sciences Laboratory has an area of 50m2 and capacity for 30 students. The laboratory consists of fixed workbenches on the sides and removable furniture in the centre. In this way, the layout of the tables and material storage furniture is very flexible, allowing the room to be quickly reorganised to suit the development of collaborative work in groups.

The laboratory is equipped with several water points and electricity supplies. It has a digital whiteboard that can be connected to video cameras for microscopes, making it possible to visualise preparations of interest in groups.

The laboratory is equipped with classic laboratory equipment to deal with curricular content related to microbiology, molecular biology, animal physiology, plant physiology and ecology.

The laboratory has a large collection of geological samples and equipment for petrographic microscopy

There is also a small osteoteca to support comparative anatomy classes.

Description of the main equipment

General equipment

• Digital interactive whiteboard
• Classic laboratory equipment (various measuring equipment)
• Hood with flow regulation HVAC system
• Hydrogen cell
• Radon meter
• Water distiller

Electromagnetism Equipment

• Oscilloscopes
• Power supplies
• Signal generator
• Astronomy
• Astronomical telescopes

Microbiology equipment

• Compound optical microscopes (MOC)
• Wi-Fi cameras for MOC
• Binocular magnifiers
• Greenhouse
• Autoclave

Animal Physiology Equipment

• Human anatomy models
• Osteoteca with collection of animal skulls
• Ecology equipment
• Binoculars
• Ultrasound detector for chirotera

Molecular Biology Equipment

• Microcentrifuge
• Thermocycler for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
• Transilluminator

Geology Equipment

• Geological sample collection
• Petrographic microscope

Source of funding

Horizon 2020

Contact person

Pedro Rodrigues (pedrorodrigues@ese.ipp.pt)

Sara Aboim (saraaboim@ese.ipp.pt) - Life and Environmental Sciences

António Barbot (antoniobarbot@ese.ipp.pt) - Chemistry and Physics